How much is that doggie scooper in...

How much is that doggie scooper in the window?

A 1989 Jaguar that brought in $33,500 was the showpiece of the U.S. Customs Service auction in Dominguez Hills. But the most curious item was a crate of pooper scoopers--12,090 of them.

The scoopers were included in a lot of sporting goods and sunglasses that someone purchased for $7,750.

Unlike the Jaguar, the pooper scoopers were not seized from a drug dealer, said Josie Plachta, a spokeswoman for EG&G; Dynatrend, the company that conducted the auction.

“They came into a port of entry and for some reason never made it to the owner,” Plachta said. “It might have been the owner couldn’t pay the duty. Or something happened to the owner. Or there was something wrong with the labels. . . .”

One thing’s clear: It was a pooper-scooper deal gone bad.

What about bolting the doghouse to the foundation?

After the Twin Temblors, we received a press release from a Culver City company that is promoting a disaster survival kit--for dogs. Food, water, first-aid supplies, etc., for three days. If you own a dog you might consider getting one, especially if you’ve taught the hound how to beg.

Maybe Bush and Clinton could be the opening act: The talk of Pasadena is that Ross Perot, the undeclared presidential candidate, might hold an event for supporters at the Rose Bowl.

“We’ve heard it over and over again,” said Pasadena Mayor Rick Cole. “In fact, someone from a Perot group called to ask what it would cost to rent the Rose Bowl. But that’s as far as it’s gone.”

The rumors may be the result of an Evans and Novak column that speculated that Perot could draw 200,000 supporters to the Rose Bowl.

Elsewhere, on the non-campaign trail: Chez Jay restaurant in Santa Monica displays a bumper sticker on the wall that pays a kind of tribute to the director of “JFK”:

Hollywood’s Minister of Propaganda

Oliver Stone for President

B.S. Party

We hope Stone finds out who conspired to nominate him.

Now, for an unusual menu: John Merritt of L.A. received a flyer from a local eatery that contained what might be the ultimate attempt to win the confidence of diners.

Dueling Signs: “Isn’t it wonderful that you can go north in either direction?” jokes Ira Horn of San Pedro, who snapped this week’s winner.

Actually, as locals will tell you, Palos Verdes North is the name of the street. And, of course, it runs mostly east and west.

miscelLAny:

The map to “Los Angeles Dining” in the latest Fodor’s guide includes Reseda, but not Encino. Poor Encino--it just gets no respect since Michael Jackson moved away.